Illuminated sign.



R. F. VBNNER.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6, 1910 1,048,008. Patented Dec.24, 1912.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ROBERT FRANCIS VENNER, 0F CROYDON, ENGLAND.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

Application filed October 6, 1910. Serial .No. 585,726.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT FRANCIS VEN- NER, electrical engineer, asubject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Croydon, Surrey,England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Signs,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to illuminated signs of the kind comprising anopaque screen provided with perforations in which are locatedtransparent or semi-transparent bodies such as glass balls or beadswhich are so arranged as to give the effect of luminous letters,pictures, devices or portions thereof when the said bodies areilluminated by a source of light placed behind the opaque screen, suchsource of light being either natural or artificial.

The invention has particular reference to the manner of attaching andsecuring the trans arent or semi-transparent bodies in position in thescreen in a sign of the above character and has for its object to deviseimproved arrangements of this kind that shall be cheaper and simpler toconstruct, assemble and repair than those at present known in the art.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which-Figure 1 is a sectional view on the line w-:12 of Fig. 4, showing asmall portion of the opaque screen of an illuminated sign showing asingle translucent body secured thereto in accordance with one form ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the back of the opaquescreen showing one group oftranslucent bodies secured in accordance witha modified form of the invention. illustrating further. modifications.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein similar characters refer tosimilar parts, the opaque screen of the sign is designated by 1 and thetransparent or semi-transparent body located within a'circularperforation therein. The body 2, as shown in Fig. 1, is substantiallyspherical in form, and comprises a front portion 3 the maximum diameterof which is slightly greater than the diameter of the perforation in thescreen, so that a shoulder or flange 4 is formed, the annular face ofwhich engages with the front edge of the perforation when the body isinserted therein from the front of the screen. The portion of the body 2actually Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views.

lying within the perforationis indicated at 5 and between this portionand the rear portion 6 of the body is located an annular groove orrecess 7 which is parallel to the shoulder.

In assembling the sign, each of the translucent bodies 2 is insertedinto the corresponding perforation in the opaque screen from the frontthereofand a locking means is inserted into the groove or recess 7, aswill be subsequently described.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a form of looking means is illustrated in whichthe translucent bodies are secured to the screen by means of a wire 9which is wound around or engages in the recess 7 in each bodysuccessively, passing from one body to the next until a group of thebodies is secured. A U-shaped locking member 10 may also be employed tosecure two adjacent bodies 2 as shown in Fig. 3, the two substantiallystraight legs of the locking member lying in the opposing sides of therecesses 7 in the said bodies.

Instead of utilizing a plurality of locking members 10 as shown in Fig.3, a single wire or strip 11 of sinuous form may be employed as shown inFig. 4.

Although in the arrangements above described the screen is referred toas being opaque and the bodies located therein as being transparent orsemi-transparent, it will be understood that the invention is equallyapplicable to illuminated signs in which the screen is transparent orsemi-transparent and the bodies located therein are opaque or to signsin which both the screen and bodies are of the same or different degreesof transparency or color. Furthermore, although the face of the screenthrough which the translucent bodies are inserted has been hereinbeforereferred to as the front of the said screen, it is evident that thesource of light may be located on this side of the screen if desired sothat what has been termed the rear portions of the translucent bodiesface the observer.

Owing to the readiness with which the translucent bodies may be removedfrom the screen in case of breakage or for the purpose of cleaning thesaid bodies or the screen, the invention possesses great advantages overthose previously known in the art.

Other constructions and modifications may evidently be adopted and theinvention is not to be regarded as restricted to the preto be retained,one within each of the said apertures of said portion, each bodyincluding means engaging said portion at one face thereof, and a portionprovided with a recess, disposed at the opposite face of said aperturedportion from said engaging means, and a sinuous member provided withparallel portions adapted to engage in the said recesses of said bodiesand engaging said apertured portion to retain said bodies in place,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In illuminated signs, the combination with a portion provided with aplurality of apertures,'of a plurality of bodies each including meansfor engaging said portion at one face thereof, and a laterally recessedportion extending through the said aperture in said portion, and aretainin device including two substantially straig t legs and a portionconnecting said legs, the latter purpose set forth.

3. In illuminated signs, the combination with a portion provided with aplurality of apertures, of a plurality of bodies adapted to be retained,one within each of the said apertures of said portion, each bodyincluding means engaging said portion at one face thereof and a portionprovided with a lateral recess disposed at the opposite face of saidapertured portion from said enga 'ng means, and a sinuous member adapteto engage in the said recess of each of said bodies and engaging saidapertured portion to retain said bodies in place, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT FRANCIS VENNER;

name to this specification in the presence of

